Vessel

Chapter 2: The Past in the Present

It is dark. Galatea and Tami are both sitting at the same tea table drinking from cups. Everyone seems to have gone to sleep. The room is barely lit by a few blue candles positioned around the walls. Tami seems distraught.

"I will need to report this to Tristan, Mimics using Urba tactics could be devastating, even more so with a hivemind. If they were able to use Marina's past against her, they could do much more damage."

Galatea takes a sip of her cup and answers.

"It seemed she didn't know how to react to the sight of Alice. She seemed... off."

Tami looks up to the ceiling with a sigh.

"She was imprisoned right after they both died, she never got to see them off. She has never used a Core either so no one knows the state of her mind."

Galatea recoils slightly with a confused look.

"But then it could be completely matured for all we know"

"Yes" Tami answers "Which is the reason I voted to execute her during her Rehabilitation meeting. No one knows her state of mind. But Tristan insisted we need her to, and I quote, 'Better the future of the continent'."

Galatea seems distraught after hearing those words

"Would Tristan really risk a third Calamity?"

Tami takes a sip of her cup and answers her.

"Tristan would do anything to ensure the survival of humanity. Our only choice right now is to keep our path, and at the end we will all need to choose a side."

Galatea answers with slight confusion.

"There are sides to this war?"

Tami chuckles and answers

"You've been a noble your entire life Galatea. You will learn many things during your missions." Tami takes a sip of her cup and looks straight at her eyes. As if being strangled, Galatea recoils back in fear. Spotting Tami's eyes, Galatea feels as if she could grab her bare soul and rip it apart. Then Tami speaks in a serious tone of voice

"Marina is part of your team Galatea. If you betray her, KNOW I will step in. Regardless of what she has done, or not, it is the King's orders."

Tami stands up and drinks what's left in her cup then says in her normal tone "It is late, you should rest for your next mission" She smiles, and walks away. Galatea's hands are slightly shaking, she is looking at the floor in fear. Just as Tami leaves the room Galatea takes a deep breath, as if she was holding her breath. Hyperventilating, she stands up and starts to slowly walk towards her room with a panicked face.

The next day everyone is eating breakfast. Salva seems to have recovered, he is fully awake and not in any visible pain. Galatea looks at him with a slight smile and asks.

"I am glad you are doing better, maybe next time you should keep your distance" she laughs slightly and everyone does the same.

"I should have thought about that before I jumped out of the window and into its hands!" Everyone shares the same laugh once more.

Everyone gets quiet and Galatea speaks once more, in a more serious tone

"I will need you to stay as far as you can fire your rifle on the next mission."

Salva looks at her with a smile and answers.

"The Kragen huh?"

Edies looks up to the ceiling, holding his head in disbelief